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Corduroy Road
Brief description
A road made by placing sand-covered logs perpendicular to the direction of the road over a low or swampy area.
Use / Function
- Primary use: Allowing passage over swamps, marshes, or mud.
- Secondary uses: Temporary military roads or logging roads.
Operating principle
- Floating Foundation: The logs distribute the weight over a large area of soft ground, preventing sinking (similar to a raft).
- Traction: The ribbed surface provides grip, though it is bumpy.
How to create it
- Clear Path: Remove brush and obstacles.
- Stringers (Optional): Lay two parallel logs along the edges of the path to act as rails/borders.
- Decking: Lay logs side-by-side perpendicular to the path. Use logs of uniform diameter if possible.
- Covering: Fill gaps with sand or earth to smooth the ride.
Materials needed
Variants and improvements
- Plank Road: Using sawn planks instead of round logs (smoother).
- Puncheon Road: Using split logs with the flat side up.
- Wooden Pavement: Urban block paving, much more refined than corduroy roads.
Limits and risks
- Bumpy Ride: Very uncomfortable for wagons (“corduroy” refers to the ribbed fabric).
- Rot: Wood will eventually rot, especially if not submerged (submerged wood lasts longer).
- Livestock Hazard: Horses can break legs in gaps between logs.